Spring assembly or unit



July 22, 1941. N. ELY

SPRING AssEMBrIJY on UNIT F11-ed April 29, 1940 INVENTOR. E LY YBY C p Patented July 22, 1941 SPRING ASSEMBLY R UNITl Neil Ely, Trenton, N. J., assignor to L. A. Young Spring & Wire Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application April 29, 1940, Serial No. 332,248

' of mattresses although it should be understood 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in spring assemblies or units.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved spring assembly or unit which is highly desirable for use in mattresses or the like where large or relatively large units are employed and one which while relatively light in weight and capable of yielding under load is very strong and maintains its shape under severe usage.

Second, to provide a spring assembly or unit having these advantages in which the border frame is supported so that it provides an effective support for the covering or upholstery, is resilient, and at the same time resists lateral stresses on all sides of the unit.

Third, to provide a spring assembly unit for mattresses, cushions, and the like in which a rim of flat resilient stock is so secured and supported that it cannot twist or distort relative to the springs to which it is connected.

Fourth, to provide a spring assembly unit for mattresses and the like which resists buckling or distortion both in the assembling of the mattress and also when in use.

Fifth, to provide a structure having these advantages in which there is no projecting parts that are likely to tear or cause undue wear on the upholstery.

Sixth, to provide a 'structure of this character having these features generally which is very economical in its parts and in the assembly thereof. I l

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is dened and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: l i f Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a mattress having my improved spring assembly or unit embodied therein, certain parts being shown conventionally and other parts by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the relation of the border springs to the border frame members.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view further illustrating the relation of these parts.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a so-called mattress filler assembly or unit-thatis, a spring assembly adapted to be used in the manufacture that my invention is advantageous for use in spring cushions and other relations. However, its advantages are more apparent in the larger structures where some diiculty has been experienced in maintaining the shape of the spring unit when assembled in a mattress.

In the accompanying drawing, the border springs l are shown in full lines and the remaining springs of the unit are conventionally illustrated by dotted lines at 2 but it will be understood that the springs of the unit are all the same with the exception that the border springs are especially designed for assembling with the border frame 3.

The end coils 4- of the border springs l are provided with inwardly disposed loop-like oilsets 5.

, The border frame 3 is provided with transversely disposed oisets 6 aligned with and receiving the offsets 5 of the border springs. These offsets 5 of the border springs are folded or clamped around the oisets 6 of the border frame with the bight portions 1 of the spring offsets turned or folded inwardly around and in clamping engagement with the inner edges 8 of the border frame.

The oisets of the frame and of the springs are so proportioned that the arms 9 of the spring offsets are in close clamping engagement with the ends l0 of the rim offsets, as is clearly shown in the drawing.

'Ihe border frame is in lapping, supporting relation to the end lcoils of the border springs and in a mattress assembly, for example, there are two border frames but as these are duplicates so far as the relation and engagement with the springs are concerned, I am describing only one.

Initially, the end or bight portion 'I of the spring oiTsets or loops lie in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4-that is, the loops are open to permit slipping of the border frame into the loops or offsets and when these end portions are clamped down as shown in Fig. 4 the parts are securely locked together so that the springs cannot shift longitudinally of the Yborder frame, the border frame cannot twist and is supported throughout by the springs.

In the preferred embodiment, the border frame is continuousthat is, the sides and ends of the border frames are joined-either formed in one piece and the ends welded together or formed in a plurality of pieces and welded together so that it constitutes a one-piece frame.

The body springs are preferably arranged in rows as illustrated, the springs of adjacent rows being -connected by the helical resilient tie members I2, the ends I3 of which engage and terminate with the border springs of the rows-that is, the helical tie members are not connected to the frame except through the border springs.

The flat border frame is supported throughoutso that it cannot buckle or twist and this assembly provides for a definite straight relationship between theV top and bottom edges of the assembly. The edge is flexible and at the same time resists collapsing, lateral stresses and buckling when the unit is introduced into the upholstery of a mattress shown at Yit in Fig. l.

The offsets 6 are of such depth that the engaging loops of the springs are approximately flush with the outer surface of the border spring and the only projections on the frame are where the loops are wrapped around the outer edge of the frame as Aat i5. This surface is rounded and there are noy projections which would Vresult in the wearing or tearing of the upholstery. The

Vrim is very rigid so far as lateral collapsing is concerned but fleXes freely in the desired'directions. Y

I have illustrated and described my improvements in a highly practical embodiment. I have not attempted kto illustrate or describe various adaptations contemplated by me as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat- A ent, is:

l. In a spring assembly, the combination of rows of coiled body springs, the end coils of each of the border springs being provided with looplike offsets disposed inwardly of the circumference of said'end coils, and a continuous border frame of resilient metal'of flat cross section disposed flatwise relative to and in substantial lapping supporting relation to the end coils of the border springs, said border frame having transversely disposedY offsets therein aligned with and receiving said loop-like offsets of said border springs, the bight ends of said spring offsets being folded around and'in clamping engagement with thev inner edge of said border frame, the border frame offsets being of suchV length that the arms of the said loop-like offsets of the springs are in endwise sustaining engagement with the end portions of the said border frame offsets, said border 'frameoffsets being of such depth thatl the spring offsets are substantially iiush withthe` outer horizontal surface of the border frame.

2. In a spring assembly, the combinationrof coiled body springs, the end coils of the border springs being provided with loop-like offsets disposed inwardly of the circumference of said end coils, and a border frame of resilient metal of' flat cross section disposed flatwise relative to and in substantial lapping supporting relation to the end coilsof the border springs, said border frame having transversely disposed offsets therein aligned with'and receiving said loop-like offsets of said border springs, the'bight ends of said spring offsets being folded around and in clamping engagement with the inner edge of said border frame, the border frame offsets being of such length that the arms of the said loop-like offsets of the springs arein endwise sustaining engagement with the end portions of the said border frame offsets, said border frame offsets being of such depth that the spring offsets are substantially flush with the outer horizontal surface of the border frame.

3. In a spring assembly, the combination of rows of coiled body springs, the end coils of each of the border springs being provided with looplike offsets disposed inwardly of the circumference of said end coils, and a continuous border frame of resilient metal of flat cross section disposed iiatwise relative to and in substantial lapping supporting relation to the end coils of the border springs, said border frame having transversely disposed offsets therein aligned with and internally receiving said loop-like offsets of said border springs, the bight ends of said spring offsets being folded around the inner edge of said border frame, the arms of the said loop-like offsets of the springs being in engagement with the end portions of the said border frame offsets.

4. In a spring assembly, the combination of coiled body springs, the end coils of the border springs being provided with loop-like offsets disposed inwardly of the circumference of said end coils, and a border frame of resilient metal of flat cross section disposed flatwise relative to and in substantial lapping supporting relation to the end coils of the border springs, said border frame having transversely disposed osets therein aligned with and internally receiving said looplike offsets of said border springs, said border frame offsets being of such depth that said looplike offsets are disposed substantially flush with the outer horizontal surface of the border frame, the arms of the said loop-like offsets of the springs being in engagement with the end portions of the said border frame offsets, and the bight ends of the spring offsets being bent and in retaining engagement with the inner peripheral I border springs being provided with inwardly diss posed loop-like offsets, and a continuous border frame of resilient metal of fla-t cross section disposed flatwise relative to and in lapping supporting relation to the end coils of the border springs, said border frame having transversely disposed offsets therein aligned with and receiving said loop-like offsets of saidl border springs which are clamped therearound, the border frame offsets being of such length that the arms of the said loop-like offsets of the springs engage theA end portions thereof, said border frame offsets being of such depth that the spring offsets are substantially flush with the outer horizontal surfaces of the border frame.

6. In a spring assembly, the combination of coiled body springs, the end coils of the -border springsbeingprovidedwithinwardlydisposedlooplike offsets, a border frame of resilient metal disposed in chord-like intersecting and lapping supporting relation to the circumference of the end coils of the border springs, said border frame having transversely disposed offsets therein aligned with and internally receiving said loop-like offsets of said border springs which are clamped therearound, the border frame offsets being of such length that the arms of the said loop-like offsets of the springs engage the end portions thereof, the border frame offsets being of such depth that the spring offsets are substantially flush with the top side of the border frame. f Y NEIL ELY. 

